Wean from Norvasc

[jtu91952]

No Cass, you have it right. I am now taking norvasc 5mgs, verapamil 240mgs, lasix 20 mgs, vit. e 200 ius, vit.c 500mg, aspring 325(halfed). I can only get my bp down to 153/80ish. This is inspite of diet and exercise.

Lisinopril & hctz w/ verapamil always lowered my bp, but im allergic to lisinopril and avapro. I hated toprol xl. It seems this bp problem is getting the best of me. i don't feel ill or anything, but knowing hbp is the silent killer is driving me crazy. I now hate going to the drs office.

[CASSIEBEL]

Originally Posted by jtu91952

No Cass, you have it right. I am now taking norvasc 5mgs, verapamil 240mgs, lasix 20 mgs, vit. e 200 ius, vit.c 500mg, aspring 325(halfed). I can only get my bp down to 153/80ish. This is inspite of diet and exercise.

Lisinopril & hctz w/ verapamil always lowered my bp, but im allergic to lisinopril and avapro. I hated toprol xl. It seems this bp problem is getting the best of me. i don't feel ill or anything, but knowing hbp is the silent killer is driving me crazy. I now hate going to the drs office.

Boy, can I relate to this post! Same story different meds. I now get some good control with BenicarHCT 40/25, Atenolol 50, and a 1/2 of a clonidine when it decides to go up. Usually I'm in the 130s / 70s range but can go up to 180s / 80s sometimes higher for no reason. I can get good control with verapamil or diltiazem but can't tolerate them. I too, want to just keep a good average BP.
And going to the doc now just drives mine through the roof! I feel like I have to pass a test that I'm doomed to fail. Oh well, God willing, all of us will someday reach our desired goals.
Cass

[dianne12315]

I was on Norvasc for about 2 yrs but I couldn't stand the swelling. It was no longer limited to my legs and ankles so my doctor decided to stop it. I stopped it abruptly and had no problems. (I was on 10mg once a day for 2 yrs.)

However I did notice an increase in the PVC's and the chest pain returned about 2 weeks later so I was started on Lopressor.

I also get Migraine headaches but I was told not to take Imitrex because my bp was not under control. I would read up on the side effects of any migraine medication because a few of them you're not supposed to take if your bp is not well controlled. There are some good preventative medications that you might be able to take so that you can prevent them. One is a BB (like Inderal) and then there is also Depakote ER and Topamax. I took Depakote for a few weeks but then it made my nose bleed so I had to stop. I was on Topamax for a few months and it helped with the migraines. I stopped taking it though because it was changing the taste of all of the food. I should have stayed on it because it might have helped with weight loss.

Good luck to you.

Dianne

[jtu91952]

Cass, i am now starting to get better readings since starting the norvasc. My bp was spiking something awful. The norvasc does cause me some chest pain but nothing for me to stop the drug. My ankles did swell abit at first but i hope that's not going to be a problem. Today my bp was 151/79 pulse 83. That is the lowest my bp has been in a couple of months. I was dangerously in the 200-plus and felt ill sometimes.

I think zuzu said i should give the norvasc about two wks to start working. I pray this works for me w/o too many side effects. The only real scary part is the shortness of breath that comes and goes.

[CASSIEBEL]

I pray this works for me w/o too many side effects.

I pray for That too. I know just how scary it is to have your BP that high and what a helpless feeling it is when you can't get it down.
We'll all be hoping for the best.
Cass